Drz400 Thread

[dino2000]

I bought this bike for my father-in-law in 04' and brought it back from Baja last Thanksgiving(he bought a 450X). I completeley tore it down and rebuilt everything. New suspension, all bearings, new rims/spokes, tank, jetting , pipe, Blah blah blah!
I am using it for everything from woods riding to pre-running in baja (racing a 650R, but why not the DRZ?). All in all, the best allrounder' there ever was.
BTW, radiator guards are a must on this bike. I popped a rad in Baja in March from a simple tip over on the kickstand.

[dino2000]

Pic of the bike w/o the right rad. Had to remove it and find two sticks to plug the hoses. Rode it 20 miles out to Ojos and it didn't even get hot! Installed the rad guards as soon as we got home. That is the rad zip tied to my chest protector

[quietrider]

Who's got experience with the cheap damper rod forks of the early model S and the cartridge forks of the E and later model S. I've been doing some pretty rocky trail riding lately and was wondering if I'd have an easier time with better suspension. I'm probably about 165 lbs with gear so I'm not pushing the forks too hard weaight wise, but I hear there is a big difference. Whadayasay?

[massrider]

I upgraded to '03 E forks for my '01S and added racetech springs for my weight and it has made a big improvment in the front end, it doesn't want to tuck the front under anymore and sucks up the rough stuff better. I don't have too many offroad miles on them yet but it is a big improvment.

onaXR, your TKC80 front tire looks worn like mine, the center knobs are not worn but the double knobs between them are wearing fast, I only have about 2600 miles on it and I thought it would last much longer.

M

[Ladder106]

Here's a quick photo of my DRZ:


My MT 21s are wearing the same way and my TCK 80 (on the Africa-Alp) are doing it too. I think it comes from braking on the pavement and maybe running lowish dirt pressures on the street.

Oh well, cost of traction is wear.

Ray

[massrider]

Ladder106, how many miles do you get from the MT21? I have been looking at that tire as a replacment

M

[onaXR]

Originally Posted by massrider

I upgraded to '03 E forks for my '01S and added racetech springs for my weight and it has made a big improvment in the front end, it doesn't want to tuck the front under anymore and sucks up the rough stuff better. I don't have too many offroad miles on them yet but it is a big improvment.

onaXR, your TKC80 front tire looks worn like mine, the center knobs are not worn but the double knobs between them are wearing fast, I only have about 2600 miles on it and I thought it would last much longer.

M

Yeah it was worn in that shot, around 5k on that tire. It wears like that for some reason, I balanced the new set hoping that will matter some.

[Ladder106]

Haven't worn my first set of MT21s out yet so dunno what I'll get.

Extrapolating from what I see now it'll probably be about 4000 miles.

I also tend to replace a knobbie way before you have to since it makes no sense to have one with 1/4 in knobs. I have ridden the street in the rain this winter ridden mud (the clay sticky stuff we have here), rocks, grass and hardpack. They tend to do OK on just about everything.

On the whole, I'd rather ride a knobbie a bit slower on the street than keep getting spit off riding a street tire in the dirt. The MT21s have surprising tractioin on the street, they have good feedback if you push them to hard in a corner (squirmy feeling), haven't done anything dangerous and don't howl on the street. They are certainly noisier than a street tire but nothing bothersome.

My DRZ gets almost exactly 50/50 street/dirt use if that's any help.

Ray

[Britmick]

Originally Posted by Ladder106

Here's a quick photo of my DRZ:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/241880/IMG_0015.jpg

How did you manage to get that small twin trunked tree to grow out of your left side mirror bracket Ray?

l'm running on Maxxis Desert tires at the moment,there is a certain amount of 'humming' on the road,but they're good for soft sand/gravel & rocky terrain,& as we don't get wet or muddy roads here,l can't comment on how they cope with those conditions.

Mick.

[onaXR]

Originally Posted by vegasmick

How did you manage to get that small twin trunked tree to grow out of your left side mirror bracket Ray?

Mick.

Not bad, but my tree produces fruit!

[Britmick]

Originally Posted by onaXR

Not bad, but my tree produces fruit!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...9/HPIM0433.jpg

That's a nice fruit tree you got there growing,but what type is the tree that's growin' outa you're front tyre(Proper spelling of tire......Oh yes it is!)


Mick.


PS,that's also a darned sexy lookin' bike you got there in black!

[onaXR]

Originally Posted by vegasmick

That's a nice fruit tree you got there growing,but what type is the tree that's growin' outa you're front tyre(Proper spelling of tire......Oh yes it is!)


Mick.


PS,that's also a darned sexy lookin' bike you got there in black!

Thanks Mick, and that is a white oak from the front tyre.

[7 7]

Originally Posted by Ladder106

Here's a quick photo of my DRZ:


My MT 21s are wearing the same way and my TCK 80 (on the Africa-Alp) are doing it too. I think it comes from braking on the pavement and maybe running lowish dirt pressures on the street.

Oh well, cost of traction is wear.

Ray

Nice looking bike Ray, you don't have any close ups of your windscreen and rest of bike do you? It would be much appreciated Love the look of that tall Dakarish windscreen.......does it work well?

[Britmick]

7/7.......do you guys in Oz do lotsa highway miles?
l only ask 'coz you're asking about tall windscreens.....

l would never have considered this mod(l don't do much blacktop travel)

Mick.

[northumbrian]

well its got a DRZ motor, with a Pumper carb, Scorpion S/S race exhaust and K&N Air filter ( hopefully image will appear! )